Safety attachment for car-coupler locks



Aug. 17, 1943. s. L. JOINER 2,327,271

SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR CAR-COUPLER LOCKS Filed Aug. 25, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l f Elma/whom Aug. 17, 1943. s. JOINER SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR CAR-COUPLER LOCKS lam Patented Aug. 17, 1943 SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR CAR-"COUPLER LOCKS SylvcsterL. Joiner, Sweetwatcr,"1ex .,assignor ofthree-fourths to ltobert E. Gravcs, -Brownwood,

Tex.

- Application August 25, 1941, Serial No. 498,268 a 1 can. (oasis- 1 6) This invention relates t-o'a safety attachmen-t fore carcoupler lock-lifter; and it isprimarily an object o'f-the invention to provide 3 an attach merit of this kind to be rested on the coupler head of the lift'pin for the lock disposed therethrough, said'attachment being so formed and construct e to provide means to prevent'the lift pin from bindingand also tosubstantially eliminate the liability of-the lock being accidentally released as the resultfof'undue vibrationot'the train while in motion. a a

When the train is traveling along-a rough jectof the invention to provide an attachment accidental releaseof the lock.

The invention consists in the details of con"- struction and in the combination and arrangea the drawings, H denotes a coupler head comprised in a wellknowntype of coupler as for-examplethe American Railroad Assccia'tionDcoupler Associated with the head H-ih the usual "vention but are already known and in use. the parts of the coupler'head H are set, the'pin 8 slides downwardly and-rearwardly for coaction withthe anti-creeping lip 3,- as is well knownin 'for coaetion' with the lock'pin to prevent such merit of the several partsvof my safetyattach ment forcar coupler locks whereby certain important advantages are attained,-as will 'be hereinaftermo're fully setforth.

, In order thatmy invention maybe better understood, I will now-prooee'd-to describethe-same with reference-to the accompanying drawings,

wherein: I g V Figure 1 is a view partly in" elevation and partly in section illustrating an attachment'constructed in accordance with an embodirnent offmy inverr- 7 tion inapplied'positionn Figure 2 is, a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially on the line" 2-2"of 1 igure 1 with partsin elevations Figure 3 is a viewinperspective oi the attachment-unap'plied. 5 V

' Figure 4 is-a view intop planconstructed in accordance with another embodimentof my invention.

'Figure 5-is a sectional view 'takensubstan- Figure dis a view in top-pl'an of astill further embodiment of my attachment.

Figure '7 is asectionalview takenon the line l -loi Figure 6. e

-=Figure 8 is a viewin'top plan of an" attachment constructed in accordance with astill further embodiment'of the invention; r

Figure!) is a sectionalviewta'ken substantially on the line 5-9011 Figure- 8. V Figure 10 is a view in'topplan of-an attach- 1 =ment constructed in accordance with an additional embodiment *of theinvention; and

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken substantially onthe'line ll-H of 'Figure 10.

As particularly illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of -nianner is a knuckle l'hel'd in closed position by a locki; Thetop wall'4 of the head H is pr0- -vided with the usual opening 5 through which is directed therlockpin S. I The-upper portion of the pin-'5 is operativelyengaged with a lift lever L.

The foregoing features form no part of my in- When connection withthe standard b ccupl'er of the topoperated form, as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. a

'It often I occursthat the shocks and jars "to which the-rolling stock ofa train, and more'particularly a freight train, are subjected results-in such undue-vibration of the lock 2 to free the same ironrits lip -3 so that the knuckle I is allowed to' swing open with a resultant breaking of the train. This disadvantage often occurs 'as the result of the car of a train-havingflat wheels 7 and-also upon slacking'of the train and which slacke'nin'g has a tendency to occur when the "train is tra've'ling over a light roadway. This "disadvantage may be overcome by retarding any accidental vibration of the look by restricting the tendency 'ofthe lockpin 6 to'move upwardly under adverse conditions.

My-improved-atta'chment A is for this purpose. 5 As herein embodied, my attachment A coin prises a substantially rectangular rigid collar "I which is placed directly upon the top wall 4-01.

the head H and through which the pin 6 is freely disposed The central opening or slot 8 of this collar is'sufficient to allow'for the free raising and lowering of the 'pin 6 when desired to adjust the pin B'int'o lock set or knuckle throw position. As particularly illustrated in Figure 2 of thedrawings, the cross sectional configuration of the pin 6 and the form of the opening orslot is such as to render the collar l "non-rotatable around the pin 5, thus assuringthe'maintenance of the inclined edges a in desired position; The collar 1 is of metal, preferably cast, 'al

though I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself inthisrespect. The 'side marginal portions of the collar 7 are defined'by the upist'anding flanges 9 with the inner end portions of these flanges 9 connected byan upstanding intermediate web 10 herein disclosed as integral with the rear portion of the collar I and with r V 'the adjacent endportions of the flanges 9. The

upperedges a of these flanges 9 are inclined'from 'their rear ends to their iorward'ends onasuitabie 'angleand prefe'rably at about 45 a1though,:of

course, this angle of inclination maybe varied,

- W In the embodiment of the invention as illusl7l td ll'l'FlguIf$S i and 5, theattachment B is as the requirements of practice may deem necessary. As particularly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the flanges 9 extend beyond the forward end of the opening 8 of the collar 1 and have their forward ends or low points merged with the collar I at the forward edge thereof.

When the lock 2 is set, the lift lever L will contact-the inclined edges a of the flanges 9 with f the result that the pin 6 will have a tendency under its own weight to move downwardly or inwardly of the coupler head under sufficient stress to hold the lock 2 set against release as a result of the shocks and jars incident to train travel as, for example, flat wheels, train slack, rough track, and the like. It may be stated that the pin 6 is of sufficient weight to cause the lever L with which it is engaged to have a constant tendency to ride downwardly of the inclined edges o. It is also to be particularly pointedjoutthat by having the lever L ride on the edges a of the flanges 9, the lock pin 8 is substantially suspended from the lever L and maintained against; binding against theiorward edge wall of the opening 3. As is clearly illustrated in Figure 1 of the draw.- ings, the lip 3 serves as 'a fulcrum for the lower end of the pin 6 so that said pin readilyswings orrocks lengthwise of'the opening 2 and which opening is of a length materially in excess of the width or corresponding dimension of the pin 6.

This movement of the pin 6 assures the maximum efficiency of theattachment A. It will be noted that the central opening or slot l3 of this attachment Ais also of alength materially in excess ofthe Width or corresponding dimension of the placed on the top wall of the head of the coupler with the lock disposed therethrough as hereinbefore set forthwith respect to the first embodiment of the invention. ThisfattachmentB comprises a substantially LJ-shaped member with its sidearms i I rearwardly disposed andthe upper faces Zrof the arms I l are inclined downwardly andforwardly, such inclination being. extended over the forward and intermediate portion l2 of .the attachment B. The vopen space at the rear of the attachment B isclosed by a removable 7 member is insertible through the free end portionsof the side arms H and bridgingthe space therebetween; Ineither applyin or removing the attachment B, the member M is,'of course, removed. After'ap-plication the member H3 is applied, thusinsuring the attachment B being .maintained in working position with respect to the lift pin and the top of the coupler head.

I As illustrated in Figures 51 and 5,'the member and *1 comprises a substantially rectangular link,

the bars cf'which are formed of relatively heavy material and with the side bars I thereofv substantially parallel. One ;ofthe endorcross bars i! is split, as at-i8, to provide means whereby, upon spreading of said split bar l'l, the attachrnent may be applied to or removed out of working position without releasing the lock pin from the lift lever. lend bar, i9 has Welded or otherwise rigidlyse- The opposite or unbrokencross cured to its under surface a'depending flange 20 which has direct contact with the top wall of the coupler head withthe result that the attachment C is disposed on a forward or downward incline on a desired angle.

In Figures 8 and 9, the attachment D is also in the form of a rectangular link having its side bars 2| substantially parallel and with one of its cross end members 22 split, as at 23. The side bars 2| of the attachment D adjacent to an end of the attachment are upwardly buckled, as at 24, whereby the forward portions 0 of the side bars2l are disposed on a downward and forward incline.

In the form of the invention as illustrated in Figures 1Q and. ll the attachment E comprises a plate'member 25 having a relatively large central opening 26 through which the lift pin is adapted to be freely disposed. Rigidly secured .by welding or otherwise, as may be preferred, to

the rear portion of the plate 25 and for a major distance therealong is an upwardly inclined and substantiall U-shaped member 21. The side arms 28 of this member 27 have their inner edges formed to substantiallyconform to the adjacent edge portions of the openings 25. This plate 26 is extended downwardly and forwardly on a reopening'ZG and the rear edgeportion of the member 27 immediately thereabove-are provided with the notches or recesses 36 to facilitate the desired movement ofthe lock pin throughthe at From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a safety attachment for car coupler locks constructedin accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which ,it may be assembledand operated.

. I claim:

Inv combination with the coupler head and lift pin of a standard, D top operated ,carcoupler and a liftingmean'sfor the pin, the opening in the top wall of the couplerbeing of a length materially in exc ess of the widthor corresponding dimensionpfthe pin, the coupler having an internal part providing a coupling for the inserted end of they pin to allow the pin to have swinging movement along the slot, a member positioned upon the topof the coupler head and having an opening through which the lift pin freely passes, said opening being also of a length materially in excess of the width or corresponding dimension of the lift pin to permit swinging movement of the pin, said memberat oppositesides of the opening therethroughbeing provided with upstanding flanges, the upper edges of the flanges being inclined downwardly and forwardly, a part of the, lifting means for the pin being adapted to ride on the inclined edges when the coupler lock is in operative; position, said part of the lifting rneans sliding downwardly onsaid edges under the weight of the,pin,'to move the pin inwardly of the couplerhead under suflicient stress .to holdthe lock of the coupler againstrelease as a result of shocks; and jars.

" 1 SYLVESTER, L. oINEa. 

